KARACHI: Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) on Tuesday suspended gas to local industries for three and a half months effective from November 15, 2022.
The gas utility in an announcement stated that as part of load management plan, gas supplies to all local industrial customers for their use for power generation are being suspended for three and a half months i.e. from November 15, 2022 to February 28, 2023.
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Moreover, 50 per cent reduction in supplies of export industrial units for their power generation shall also be carried out for the same period.
The SSGC said that the decision had been taken in view of the widening demand and supply gas especially with arrival of winter.
SSGC implements government of Pakistan’s gas load management plan whereby it gives top most priority to the domestic and commercial sector for supplying gas, especially those living in Balochistan where demand for gas increases manifolds due to space and water heating needs.
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“This situation is further compounded by the fact that gas reserves are being fast depleted at an annual rate of 10 per cent that further places pressure on the company’s line pack system,” it added.
The company said that these closure are in line with the contract already signed between SSGC and each individual industrial consumer that clearly states:
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“Gas supply will be provided by the company on ‘as and when available basis’ only during the period from March to November each year. The consumer will make dual firing arrangements to avoid loss of production as and when gas is not available during March to November and also during December to February when the company will keep the consumer’s gas supply disconnected at his cost, each year.”
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The company further said that gas volume curtailed from this management would be diverted to domestic customers for them to cater their enhanced gas loads in context of the winter season.
“Gas thus saved approximately 160 mmcfd gas thus saved will then be diverted to Balochistan where gas serves as lifeline for the majority of the population.”
